Dolph



. P. RANDOLPH.

VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

2 $HEETSSHEET l,-

C. P. RANDOLPH.

VEHlCLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY H, H314.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed May 11, 1914. Serial No. 837,615.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLABnoRN P. Rare DOLPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have 1nvented a new and useful Vehicle-Spring, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicle springs, and the main object of the invention is to provide a spring which is so constructed that it cushions both the up and down move ments of the vehicle, and acts to absorb the shock in both directions, so that the shock absorbers are unnecessary.

A further object is to provide for an accumulative cushioning action in either direction.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the spring. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on line w -w Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 12 -00 Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an enlarged section on line w*m Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a portion of the buckle and roller support. Fig. 6 is afront elevation of a spring to be employed on the front end of the vehicle. Fig. 7 is a side elevationof another form of-spring. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of another form f spring. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a spring for the front of the vehicle. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of another forth. Fig. 11 is a perspective of an adjustable strap fastening.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the spring comprises three sections, an upper section a, a middle section b and a lower section 0. The upper spring section comprises several leaves 1 bowed upwardly, and all of the leaves of the three sections are secured at the center by a clip 2, which is the axle support. The upper leaf of the section a has an eye 3 at each end thereof for attachment to the frame not shown. The middle section b is composed of a couple of leaves 4 which are bowed upwardly, and the upper leaf has a rounded end 5 and the strap 6 passes thereover and is riveted at 7 to the leaf, the rivet 7 also serving to attach a leather bufling shield 8, which prevents the leaves of the upper section from striking or chafing the' strap 6. The strap 6 extends down and around a roller 9, which is mounted on two arms 10 of a plate 11 shown in detail in Fig. 5, which is riveted to the lower leaf 12 of the section a, the leaves of the section 0 being downwardlybowed, and the plate 11 has two depending arms 13 in which is pivoted a tongue 14 having a spur 15 which is adapted to indent the strap to hold the same from slipping, and another spur 16 to indent the strap near the endthereof, so that the tension of the strap will act against the spur 15 to hold the tongue 14 with its spur forced inwardly into the'strap and holding the strap against the bottom leaf 12. From the roller 9 the strap 6 passes upwardly over a roller 17 carried by a hanger 18, which is suspended by a roller 19, which rests on top of the upper leaf 1, and the upper leaf is provided with a projection 20 on its upper surface near its end to limit the inward rolling movement of the roller 19.

The parts normally stand as shown in Fig. 1, the upward pressure of the upper spring section a acting upwardly against roller 19 to hold the same at some distance away from the projection 20 and holding the strap 6 taut, the lower section 12 resisting upward movement of the lower end and loop of the strap, and the middle section Z) exerting an upward tension so that all three sections of the spring combine to normally hold the strap under tension suflicient to keep it taut, and the two sections 6 and c oppose the section a. Upon a downward movement of the frame of the vehicle with respect to its axle, the upper section a is caused to straighten somewhat, its ends moving downwardly and having a tendency to loosen the straps 6, which slack, however, is immediately taken up by the sections Z) and 0, both of which increase their curvature, their normal tension being sufficient to permit this, so that the downward movement of the vehicle is cushioned by the upper section a. If this movement is sufficient to cause the ends of 6 are prevented from injury or from wear by the protecting shield 8. Upon the rebound and upward movement of the body, as the ends of the upper section a move upward, they draw up rollers 17, and this elongates the loop of each strap 6, which is engaged by the roller 17 and results in shortening the loop of the strap, which engages the roller 9, which results in drawing the lower sections 6 and 0 closer together, and the latter therefore act jointly to resist the upward rebound. Any desired adjustment of tension is secured by means of the strap 6, which may be adjusted by means of the tongue 14, greater tension being secured by shortening the strap 6, and less tension being secured by loosening the strap.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, the three sections a, I) and dare secured at the center.

The upper section a is equipped as in the previous form and supports roller 19 car rying hanger 18, the latter having roller 17*, which supports the loop of the strap 6, which in the present form has but a single loop, one end being secured to the middle section b by rivet 7 a and raised over rounded end 5, which is protected by shield 8. The other end of the strap 6 is secured by tongue 14* to an arm 21, which is rigid with the arm 22. A downward movement of the body of the vehicle is imparted directly to the three sections a, b and 0', the lower'ends of the section 0' being supported by the pivoted arms 22 and moving outwardly as the lower section is depressed. This movement slackens the strap 6*, which permits expansion'of sections a and 6' During the upward movement,-the strap 6 draws the ends of sections at and 6' toward each other and cushions this movement.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the center section b is pivoted at 27 directly to the frame 28, and the end of the strap 6 is secured by the adjustable fastening 14L to the section b. The strap 6 then passes upwardly over roller 17", which is mounted on the frame 28. The strap then passes down and under roller 5, which is mounted on the upper end of a hanger 29, the lower end of the hanger being pivoted at 30 to the lower section 0, there being a buffer shield 8 to strike the center section 12. The end of the strap is secured'to the upper section'a'. The downward movement of the frame 28 depresses the section I) and slackens the strap 6", which slackis immediately taken up by sections a and c. On the upward movement .of the frame as the center section b is brought upwardly, the roller 17 elongates the loop which it engages in strap 6 and acts through the medium of hanger 29 to draw both the upper section a. and lower section 0' toward each other, so that these two sections act to cushion the upward stroke.

In the form shown in Fig. 8, one end of the strap 6 is connected with the adjustable fastening 14 to the lower section 0 and then passed up over roller 17, which is suspended by hanger 18 on section a and then passes down and under roller 5, which is mounted on hanger 29, the lower end of which hanger is pivoted at 30 to the lowest section d From the roller 5 the strap passes upward and is connected to the end of the section b 8 designates the buffer shield. In this form downward movement of the frame is restricted'by the sections a and 0 which are moved toward each other and slacken the strap 6, the slack being immediately taken up by the expansion of the sections b andd Upon the upward movement of the frame as the sections a and 0 move apart, they draw on the strap 6 in such a manner as to lift the hanger 29 and thereby draw the sections b and d closer together, so that the upward movement is cushioned by the sections 1) and (1 In the form shown in Fig. 9, the upper section a is secured at each end by hangers 31, which are pivoted to the frame 28 and hangers 18 and rollers 19 are mounted on the section a and support rollers 17 over which the strap 6 passes, the lower end of the strap being secured by adjustable connection 14 to the lower section a, and hanger 29 engages the lower section 0 and has a roller 5 under which the strap 6 passes, the strap then passing upwardly and being connected to the section 6 In this form downward movement of the frame causes fiatten ing of the sections a and c and slackening of the strap 6 which slack is taken up by the expansion of the section b Upon the upward movement of the frame, the sections a and c expand, and the section b is drawn by the strap 6 toward the section 0 so that the section b cushions the upward movement of the frame.

hanger 31. A link 32 at the front end of frame 28 is connected at 33 with a bell crank lever 34, the latter being pivoted at 35 to the front end of the bottom section 0*, and the arm 36 of the lever being connected with a hanger 37 having a roller 38 which bears on the top of the center section b", the center section having a projection 39 to limit the movement of the roller 38. 8 is the buffer. In this form no strap is employed, and upon downward movement of the frame the shock is cushioned by the section a. During the upward stroke the bell crank lever is tilted in a direction to draw down the section b, and at the same time to draw up on the section 0*, so that both sections b and 0 act to resist and cushion the upward movement. The adjustable strap fastening 14 is shown in detail in Fig. 11, .j and this fastener is similar to the fasteners 14 and 14 heretofore mentioned.

What I claim is: I

1. In a spring, a plurality of sections, a strap connected at one end to one of said sectlons, said strap being loosely connected with the other sections with its end secured to one of the latter sections.

2. A spring comprising a plurality of sec tions, a strap with its ends connected to two different sections, and rollers connected with certain of the sections and engaging intermediate portions of said strap.

3. In a spring, a plurality of sections, a strap having its ends connected to different sections, a buffer over one end connection to shield the strap from the adjoining section, and rollers carried by certain of the sections engaging portions of the strap intermediate its ends.

4. In a spring, a plurality of sections, a hanger with a roller pressed against one of said sections, said latter section having a projection for limiting the position of said roller, said hanger provided with another roller, a strap connected at its ends to certain of saidsections and passing over the second named roller.

5. A spring comprising a plurality of sections, a strap fixed at one end to one of said sections, means adj ustably securing the other end of the strap to another section, and

means on certain of the sections for engaging,

intermediate portions of the strap.

6. In a spring, a plurality of sections, a strap with its ends connected to certain of said sections, a plate provided with upover said roller, and a roller carried by auother section, over which the strap passes.

7. In a spring, a plurality of sections 0 mounted in the same plane and secured to one another intermediate their ends, and a pair of flexible elements each being fastened at its ends to the ends of two of the sections and being slidably connected intermediate its ends with the other of the sections.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 27 day of April 1914.

CLABEORN r. RANDOLPH.

In presence of- G. T. HAGKLEY, LORRAINE E. DURROW. 

